Crimetracker: Elaborate fuel theft scheme leads to one arrest

Photo of the trailer Grainger County Sheriffs say Steve Poore used to steal fuel, courtesy the Grainger County Sheriffs Department.

Photo of the trailer Grainger County Sheriffs say Steve Poore used to steal fuel, courtesy the Grainger County Sheriffs Department.

GRAINGER CO., Tenn. (WVLT) -- Grainger County Detectives working with the New Tazewell Police Department arrested a Harrogate man on Tuesday after discovering an elaborate fuel theft scheme.

A release from Grainger County Sheriff Scott Layel says 22-year-old Steve Poore stole as much as 1500 gallons of fuel using elaborate fuel stealing scheme built into a trailer from Parkway Markets in Thorn Hill and a truck at Volunteer in New Tazewell.

Poore allegedly pulled the trailer over commercial fuel tanks at the gas station, and then install a pumping system into the tanks from inside the trailer.

"A very elaborate scheme. I've never seen anything like this," said Grainger County Sheriff Scott Layel.

Sheriff Layel said it was not only a surprising operation, but incredibly risky as well.

"As you can just imagine, this is like a rolling bomb more or less. It could've exploded at any time," said Sheriff Layel.

He says this scheme could've expanded to several other businesses and trucks across the region.

The Grainger County Sheriff's Department and New Tazewell Police Department ask that any businesses with unexplained fuel thefts contact their local authorities.

The release says Poore currently in the Claiborne County Jail without bond on charges of theft over $1,000, theft over $500 and violation of probation.

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